Machine for rotatably driving the bottom of a watch-casing or the bottom of a measuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

A machine for screwing or unscrewing the bottom of a watchcasing or the like having a support for receiving and holding the casing and a bracket carrying a rotatable spindle disposed above the support. The spindle is axially movable with respect to the bracket and carries a driver for application against the bottom of the casing for driving the same rotatably.

United States Patent Inventor Bernard Freiburghaus Blenne, Switzerland June 23, 1970 Jan. 1 l, 1972 Fimecor Fine Mecanique S.A. Blenne, Bern, Switzerland June 30, 1969 Switzerland Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority MACHINE FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING THE BOTTOM OF A WATCH-CASING OR THE BOTTOM OF A MEASURING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl

8H6, 29/240 G041! 3/04 81/6,3.32, 3.33; 29/210, 240, 231; 269/120, 125, 150; 279/114,123,71,1L

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,762 2/1914 Smith 279/71 2,366,519 1/1945 Greenberg 81/6 3,209,624 10/1965 Shiffman. 81/6 3,359,839 12/1967 Miller 81/6 FOREIGN PATENTS 312,295 2/1956 Switzerland 81/6 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker, .1 r. Altarneys-Kenwood Ross and Chester E. Flavin ABSTRACT: A machine for screwing or unscrewing the bottom of a watch-casing or the like having a support for receiving and holding the casing and a bracket carrying a rotatable spindle disposed above the support. The spindle is axially movable with respect to the bracket and carries a driver for application against the bottom of the casing for driving the same rotatably.

PATENTEB JAM 1 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. Bernard FHE/BURGHAUS BY )Qnwvdi @oyw amt/1671mm PATENTED JAN? 1 I972 SHEET 2 0F 2 ala/ I!!! v 0 n FIG. 2

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. Bernard FFPE/BUHGHAUS BY fi ww 14 m #flwim any.

MACHINE FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING THE BOTTOM OF A WATCH-CASING OR THE BOTTOM OF A MEASURING APPARATUS The present invention has for object a machine permitting to drive rotatably, for screwing and unscrewing, the bottom of a watch-casing or the bottom of a measuring apparatus, comprising a support intended to receive the said casing, a bracket carrying a rotatable spindle disposed above the said support, this bracket being provided with a driver applying itself against the bottom for driving it rotatably.

This machine is characterized by the fact that the said support is constituted by an hollow member, having the shape of a cup, in which is introduced the said casing, this hollow member being provided with clamping dogs intended to clamp the said casing, moving radially with respect to the center of the support, which coincide with the axis of the spindle, these clamping dogs being submitted to the action of a control device permitting to move them simultaneously in one direction or the other.

The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the object of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for screwing and unscrewing the bottom of watch-casings.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthis machine, along line lIll of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of this machine, along line Ill-Ill of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a transversal sectional view of the machine, along line lV-IV ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a detail, along line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a detail.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are plane views of two details, and

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, with partial section, of a detail.

The machine as represented comprises a frame 1, lying on a base 2, provided with a stay 3 carrying a bracket 4.

This frame 1 carries a support 5 constituting a cup, having the shape of a hollow pyramid with square basis. The four faces of this support, intended to receive a watch-casing, nonrepresented, are coated with a coating 6 of a material such as expansed plastic material or rubber, preventing any risk of damaging the said watch-casing.

Two of the opposed faces of the hollow pyramid constituting the support 5 belong to two movable elements 7 sliding into two grooves 8 provided in a plate 9 (FIG. 2 and 7) covering the frame 1. The two other faces of the hollow pyramid belong to two members 7 identical to the above-mentioned members 7, but stationarily mounted on the frame, since they are engaged into two slits 10 of the plate 9 (FIG. 7) shorter than the slits 8.

The two movable elements 7 move along a direction coinciding with the sectional line "-11 of FIG. 4, their movements being controlled by a screw 11 provided with two portions 11a and 11b, threaded in opposite sense, passing through two nuts 12 and 13, respectively, also threaded in opposite sense, carried each by one of the movable elements 7. The screw 11, provided with a control member 14, is prevented to move axially by a pin 15a of a shaft 15 rotatably mounted on the frame 1, the purpose of which is indicated hereafter, so that while rotating this screw in one direction or the other, one produces the separation or the coming together of the two members 7, that permits to adapt the support 5 to the shape and to the dimensions of the watch-casings it has to receive.

The support is provided with four clamping dogs 16, one of which is represented in sectional view in FIG. 5, sliding in four slots 17 of the plate 9, extending diagonally with respect to the hollow pyramid constituted by the support. Each of these clamping dogs is traversed by a vertical rod 18 (FIG. 5) on which is engaged a sleeve of protecting material 19 preventing the watch-casings from being damaged when they are clamped by the dogs 16. The simultaneous displacements of the dogs 16, towards the center of the support or in the opposite direction, are controlled by a rotative plate 20 located in the frame I, mounted on the shaft 15, and which is provided with four arc-shaped slits 21 (FIG. 8) each traversed by a pin 22 carried by the clamping dogs 16.

The plate 20 is loosely mounted on the shaft 15 which carries, rigidly mounted on a portion 15b, a diametral arm 50 (FIG. 2 and 9) in the openings of which are rotatably mounted two rollers 51. These rollers bear on the lower face of the plate 20 which is provided, at its periphery, with two arc-shaped recesses 52 extending each with a recess of less depth 53 (FIG. 8). A control lever 23 passing through a lateral opening 24 provided in the frame 1 permits to rotate the shaft 15 as well as the diametral arm 50 mounted thereon. During these rotatable movements of the arm 50, the plate 20 is driven by the rollers 5] partially engaged in its arc-shaped recesses 52.

When the dogs 16 clamp a watch-casing located on the support, the resistance to the displacements offered therewith is sufficient so that the rollers 51 leave the recesses 52 and enter into the recesses 53, thereby an axial push is exerted on the plate 20 urging to displace it upwards, applying it against the peripheral portion of the stationary plate 9. It results in a friction which ensures the locking of the plate 20 and, consequently, of the clamping dogs.

The bracket 4 carries a sleeve 28, adjustable in height by a tightening screw 29 which is provided with a control member 30 for locking the sleeve. This sleeve 28 is passed through by a rotatable spindle constituted with two portions 31 and 32. The portion 31 of the spindle comprises a rod 33 (FIG. 3) rotatably mounted in the bottom, designated by 280, of the sleeve 28, and which is prevented to move axially with respect thereto. This rod 33 is rigid, owing to a transversal pin 34, with a control wheel 35.

The portion 32 of the spindle comprises a rod 36 sliding axially in a bush 37 carried by the lower extremity of the sleeve 28 and which carries, at its lower extremity, a sleeve 38. This sleeve 38 is rigid with the rod 36 owing to a transversal pin 39. It carries, at its lower extremity, a movable driver 40, which is interchangeable, coated with a coating 41 made of protective material.

The rod 36 carries, at its upper extremity, a sleeve 42 with which it is made rigid by a transversal pin 43. This sleeve 42 is provided, at its upper extremity, with two diametrally opposed grooves 44 in which engage, with play, the ends of a transversal pin 45 carried by the rod 33 of the portion 31 of the spindle. The bottom of each groove 44 is provided with two surfaces 46 (FIG. 6) inclined with respect to the axis of the spindle and which are symmetric with respect to a longitudinal plane passing by this axis and by their intersection.

A coil spring 47 urges to maintain the portion 32 of the spindle in the upper position, the bottom of the grooves 44 being then bearing against the transversal pin 45 of the portion 31 of the spindle.

Owing to this arrangement, when a rotatable movement is impelled to the wheel 35, the pin 45, driven by the rod 33, exerts on one or the other of the inclined faces 46 of the grooves 44 a pressure urging to move the portion 32 of the spindle downwards, in the direction of the support 5, thus applying the driver 40 against the bottom of the watch-casing located on the support, the pressure increasing with the resisting moment of the bottom. As soon as the moment exerted on the driver reaches the value of this resisting moment, the bottom is rotatably driven by the driver.

The present machine thus permits to open and to close watch-casings or casings of all measuring apparatuses the bottom of which is screwed or is mounted with a bayonet joint, the support 5 being able to adapt itself easily to the shape and to the dimension of the casings by displacement of the movable members 7, and the casing being strongly maintained by the clamping dogs 16.

Owing to the single action of the control wheel 35, one produces the application and the axial pressure of the driver 40 against the bottom of the casing, then the driving in rotation of the driver which, by simple friction, ensures the driving in rotation of the bottom.

The machine will comprise, advantageously, several drivers of different dimensions adapting themselves to bottoms also of different dimensions.

What i claim is:

1. Machine permitting to rotatably drive the bottom of a watch-casing or the bottom of the casing of a measuring apparatus, comprising a support intended to receive the said casing, a bracket carrying a rotatable spindle situated above the said support, this bracket being provided with a driver exerting on the said bottom a pressure for driving it, characterized by the fact that the said support is segmented and defines an inverted hollow pyramid with a four-angle base, in which is located the said casing, this hollow member being provided with clamping dogs, intended to clamp the casing, moving radially with respect to the center of the support, which coincides with the axis of the spindle, the said clamping dogs being submitted to the action of a control device permitting to move them simultaneously in one direction or in the other.

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said hollow pyramid has a square base, two of its opposite faces belonging to two movable members moving in the direction of the axis passing by the middle of the sides constituting the basis of these two faces, means permitting to produce the simultaneous displacement of the said movable members towards the center or in the opposite direction.

3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the means controlling the two movable members of the support are constituted by a screw rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine, prevented from moving axially, provided with two opposite threaded portions threaded into two opposite threaded nuts, carried the first one by one of the movable members and the second one by the other.

4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the clamping dogs are slidably mounted on the frame of the machine, each of them being provided, at its basis, with a protruding element engaging into one of several arc-shaped grooves provided in a plate rotatably mounted on the said frame, coaxially to the center of the support, whereby the rotation of the said plate produces the radial displacements of the said clamping dogs.

5. Machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the said plate is provided with means permitting to lock it, thus locking the clamping dogs.

6. Machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the said clamping dogs move, by pairs, along two diagonals of the square constituting the basis of the hollow pyramid constituting the support.

7. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hollow pyramid constituting the support is coated, innerly, with protective material preventing the support from any risk of damaging the casing. 

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said hollow pyramid has a square base, two of its opposite faces belonging to two movable members moving in the direction of the axis passing by the middle of the sides constituting the basis of these two faces, means permitting to produce the simultaneous displacement of the said movable members towards the center or in the opposite direction.
 3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the means controlling the two movable members of the support are constituted by a screw rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine, prevented from moving axially, provided with two opposite threaded portions threaded into two opposite threaded nuts, carried the first one by one of the movable members and the second one by the other.
 4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the clamping dogs are slidably mounted on the frame of the machine, each of them being provided, at its basis, with a protruding element engaging into one of several arc-shaped grooves provided in a plate rotatably mounted on the said frame, coaxially to the center of the support, whereby the rotation of the said plate produces the radial displacements of the said clamping dogs.
 5. Machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the said plate is provided with means permitting to lock it, thus locking the clamping dogs.
 6. Machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the said clamping dogs move, by pairs, along two diagonals of the square constituting the basis of the hollow pyramid constituting the support.
 7. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hollow pyramid constituting the suppOrt is coated, innerly, with protective material preventing the support from any risk of damaging the casing. 